Monday, 6 May 2013

UpLULA and LULA Magazine Loader and Unloader

Well, I was wrong. When it came to devices used to load or
unload weapon magazines, I thought the thumb was king. I had done multiple
deployments with no fancy tool. Initial loading of magazines was simple. They
were loaded from ten round stripper clips facilitated with the issue magazine
charger. Weekly, I would perform magazine maintenance when I did my routine
weapon maintenance. This entailed unloading three hundred plus 5.56mm and fifty
six 9mm rounds, inspecting and cleaning all magazines and reloading the
magazines.

Last month, Ryan Funker Tactical gave me an UpLULA, a pistol
magazine loader/unloader, and a LULA, the AR platform variant rifle magazine
loader/unloader. He extolled their virtues and usefulness. I was sceptical.
Knowing I was going on the Phase Line Green Tactical Low Light course in April;
I accepted this challenge. Standard course preparation for me is to remove
rounds from packaging storing them loose in custom painted ammo cans. I paint
ammo cans brown on the outside and white on the inside. This allows for easy
recognition from other people's cans and white inside makes for easier use in
low light conditions. This saves time loading magazines during scheduled times
and I avoid being THAT GUY.

The UpLULA, universal pistol magazine loader and unloader, is designed for loading and unloading most 9mm to .45ACP magazines, both
single and double stack. They are much faster than manual loading, once you get
the technique down. After about eight pistol magazines, I had the squeeze-push
flow down like a boss. The UpLULA is lightweight (66 grams/2.3 ounces), robust
and even locks closed to make it a smaller package and prevent damage.

The LULA Rifle Magazine Loader and Unloader are made from
the same durable plastic, simple to use and definitely speed up magazine
loading. It is platform dependant: AR, AK/Galil, M14, FN FAL, Colt SMG, MP5 and
Uzi variants exist with more magazine types on the way. The robustness of the glass-reinforced polymer
and simplicity of action speaks to a long service life. Lightweight (38
grams/1.3 ounces) and small, this belongs in your deployment kit. I have the AR
platform variant which means it will load USGI metal magazines, P Mags and
Lancer magazines in 5.56mm or .223 reliably. I have heard of some issues with
6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendal magazines. Within approximately five AR mags, I was quite
proficient.

Living in Canada, where it seems to be winter all the time,
these loaders/unloaders facilitate cold weather magazine load/unloading as they
can be operated with gloves without difficulty. I learned to use these
loaders/unloaders on a low light course on an unlit outdoor range. It was, also, a Northern Ontario April
evening and night. Meaning, it was cold. Loading was done, in the cold while wearing
gloves, in the dark using a vest light for illumination and within time constraints
of scheduled breaks on a fairly intense advanced course. They made loading, in near dark, a swift effortless task.The UpLULA and LULA
loader/unloaders allowed me to meet all timings error free for the course
without rushing.

I truly wish I had these devices on my past deployments to
facilitate magazine maintenance. They will deploy with me when the next crisis
arises (or, when I will be allowed to, as I have deployed a lot).

2 comments:

You speak highly of the loading but what of using them to unload? I detest unloading my AR mags regardless of which sort. USGI or P Mag, unloading is the bane of my existence. Do they facilitate unloading as easily as you make loading seem?

Yes. Practically, when practicing outside of work. I load magazines around the intended drills. So, there is little unloading then. However, on deployments and during work applications,I wish I had these devices sooner.

To unload using the LULA loader/unloader: Attach the device to the top of the magazine. Cant the magazine over the area that you wish the rounds to fall with a 45 degree and or greater. Then, work the lever on the top back and forth allowing gravity to let rounds fall from the magazine. The system relieves the spring pressure off the top round and it will fall free easily.

Usual Suspects

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